Theodore w



(No Model.)

T. W.v SESSINGHAUS.

' SKID.

Patented M 12 1895 T %"24 Q 4 M 1 s i z mane TATES a'rnNr rrrcn.

SKID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,561, dated March 12, 1895.

Application filed January 7,1895. Serial No, 534092. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE W. Snssme- HAUS, residing in the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented-a new and useful Improvement in Skids, of which the following is a specification.

Skids or slides are frequently extended above sidewalks or passageways for pedestrians and occasion numerous accidents to those passing underneath them.

The principal objects of my invention are to lessen the danger of such accidents, and to improve the means for supporting the lower end of the skid at any desired height.

To these ends my invention consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skid supported by my device. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan thereof; and Fig. 4. is a sectional detail showing the tongue on thesupporting frame working in the groove of-the side post.

The upper end of the skid, 1, is fastened to its support by any suitable means adapted to allow the lower end to move up and down. The drawings illustrate hooks, 2, fixed to the upper end of the skid, 1, fitting into staples or eyes, 3, fastened to the wall of a building. To insure against this fastening breaking and the skid falling, the upper end may be secured to the building by a chain, 4.

The lower end of the skid, 1, rests on a vertically adjustable support, 5. This support, 5, is preferably a strong cross frame whose sides fit loosely in guiding grooves, 6, provided therefor in fixed posts or upright standards, 7. The lower portion of the movable support, 5, has laterally movable pins, 8, adapted to co-operate with holes or pin sockets, 9, provided therefor atvarious heights along said standards, 7. A pulley or roller, 10, is journaled in the upper portion of each of said standards, 7 and over each of said rollers, 10, passes a rope, fastened at one end to the adjustable support, 5, and having a counterweight, 11, fastened to its other end. A casing or housing, 12, is preferably provided for each counterweight and rope. The

downward movement of the adjustable support or frame 5, is limited by any suitable means not liable to be broken, for the purpose of preventing the lower end of the skid interfering with persons passing along the walk. For this purpose, the guiding grooves, 6, in which the frame moves may terminate at any desired point, as shown.

The operation of the device is as follows: When not in use, the lower end of the skid is high enough to be out of the way of passing vehicles. When a wagon is to be loaded, it is got into the desired position and the skid adjusted to suit the wagon. For this purpose, the pins, 8, are withdrawn from their sockets, and the frame, 5, moved by hand upwardly or downwardly to the desired position and the pins are then again pushed into their holes. The counter-weights, 11, are together almost heavy enough to balance the frame, 5, with the skid resting thereon, so as to make it easy of movement. In case any accident should happen, the frame, 5, cannot fall below the lower end of the guide grooves, and in this position the skid is not low enough to hurt a person on the walk.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a skid whose upper end is fastened by any suitable means, of a vertically adjustable support for its lower end, said support consisting of fixed standards and an adjustable cross frame carried thereby, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a skid whose upper end is fastened by any suitable means, of a vertically adjustable support for its lower end, said support consisting of fixed standards and an adjustable cross frame carried thereby, and a stop for limiting the downward movement of said cross frame, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a skid whose upper end is fastened by any suitable means, of a vertically adjustable support for its lower end, said support consisting of upright standards having longitudinal grooves therein, a cross frame adapted to slide in said slots, a pulley on each of said standards, and ropes each fastened to said cross frame at one end,

passing over one of said pulleys and having a counterweight at its other end, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a skid whose up- 5 per end is fastened by any suitable means, of

a vertically adjustable support for its lower end, said support consisting of two upright standards each having a longitudinal groove and pin sockets therein, a cross frame adapted to slide in said grooves and carrying movable 10 pins adapted to fit in said sockets, substantially as described.

THEO. W. SESSINGHAUS. Witnesses:

JAMES A. CARR, JAMES J. ODONOHOE. 

